All posts by Revee Needham

Upcoming Artists on Main Street Events

We’re proud to support 8 projects for this year’s Artists on Main Street. Learn more about all of the projects supported this year. There are a few upcoming events and opportunities to participate!

Mosaic Unveiling – October 2: Join Michael Sweere at the Northfield Public Library starting at 4:00pm for the unveiling of his mosaic, Your Mind is a Magic Wand.

Poets at the Depot – October 7: Join us at the Northfield Depot from 2:00pm – 4:00pm for a free poetry reading.

 

Paper Mosaic Workshop – October 19: Join artist Michael Sweere for an introduction to paper mosaics at the Northfield Public Library at 5:30pm. Learn more and register online.

 

New Hispanic Heritage Banners

The Northfield Arts and Culture Commission and the Friends of Downtown Northfield are pleased to announce the winning design for new downtown banners in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Corn Connections by Constanza Ocampo-Raeder and sons Emiliano and Joaquin was selected by a volunteer public art review committee in July out of 12 outstanding submissions from local and regional artists.

The banner depicts different kinds of corn that bear significance and speak to cross-cultural connections: Joaquin and Emiliano’s favorite Oaxacan corn (purple), sweet corn (yellow), and heritage Native American popcorn (red). The sun represents both the beautiful sunsets as well as the joys of eating corn tortillas with every meal.

The banners will be displayed on light poles along Division Street in time for Northfield’s sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on September 15, remaining for Hispanic Heritage Month and into November.

A brief dedication will take place at the Third Thursdays Downtown event hosted by Friends of Downtown Northfield and Riverwalk Market Fair on September 21 at 6:30 p.m. Remarks by Mayor Rhonda Pownell and Arts and Culture Commission Chair Paula Granquist will be provided in Spanish and English.

Hispanic Heritage Month, observed September 15 to October 15, is an annual celebration of the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America or other regions that identify with the aforementioned cultures.

Learn more about the artist and design in the banner’s virtual dedication video.

Downtown Developments

There are multiple public and private developments in the planning stages for downtown. The Council meeting tonight on August 8 will include discussion on the Transit Hub, Bridge Square, and 5th and Washington St redevelopment.

To comment on the projects, there are a few options.

  • In person during the meeting (2 minutes per Open Public Comments and/or Regular Agenda items)
  • Virtually during the meeting (2 minutes per Open Public Comments and/or Regular Agenda items)
  • Use the eComment feature on the online agenda item (available from the time the agenda is published until noon the day of the meeting)
  • Email the city clerk
  • Mail the city clerk
  • Contact Council members directly

Your comments will be part of the official public record.

To stay up to date and learn more about the various downtown projects, view the Construction & Development projects page. 

Art-Train Individual Artist Training

Are you interested in working more with your community? Sign up for Art-Train!

Art-Train is a virtual technical assistance program for artists, municipal agencies, and community-focused organizations in all sectors, in communities of all sizes across the nation. With trainings taking place throughout the year, Art-Train provides proven strategies that will help you reach and engage more people, increase community relevance and connection, and find innovative ways to be more effective—creating authentic, equitable and lasting change.

There are four upcoming Art-Train trainings this fall.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 1:00-4:00 PM
Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 1:00-4:00 PM
Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 5:00-8:00 PM
Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 1:00-4:00 PM

Learn more and register online at: https://springboardforthearts.org/art-train-training-artists/

Winners Selected for 2023 Artists on Main Street Program

The Friends of Downtown Northfield and Northfield Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) are pleased to announce the upcoming projects for this year’s Artists on Main Street installations. The projects were selected through the ACC’s Public Art Review Committee process, comprised of volunteer community members.

The committee received 19 strong proposals and, after careful review, selected the following eight projects to receive a total funding amount of $32,000. “Placemaking is all about how art can build strong communities by creating spaces where people linger and connect with each other,” said Library Director Natalie Draper. “We are excited to see how the selected artists will apply their talents to activate spaces downtown throughout the summer and into the fall.”

The selected projects, which include performances, sculpture, participatory art experiences and murals, are “Storm Drain Art: Remembering the Cannon” by Rocky Casillas Aguirre and Mike Provancha, “Random Acts of Art” by Shona Brooks, “The Catrina Chalchiuhtlicue” by Gustavo Boada, “Lady Cannon” by Maya Kenney and Raquel Santamaria, “Poets at the Depot”, submitted by Becky Boling and D.E. Green, “Creatures and Features of the Cannon” by Kathy Ness and Kate Woodstrup, “Your Mind is a Magic Wand” by Michael J. Sweere, and “River Light” by Andrew Wykes.

The artists will begin their work during this summer and fall. Visit our website to learn more about the selected artists and their projects. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund and residents of the City of Northfield through the Percent for the Arts Initiative.